A Flurry of Flakes

There’s no doubt snow is coming today. The question is how much and long will it stay.

The National Weather Service is forecasting an 80 percent chance of snow tonight with a low of 31 for Conroe, according to forecast.weather.gov. Rain and snow are expected earlier today with snow later in the day with a high temperature of 41 degrees.

“You’ll definitely see (snow) falling,” NWS Meteorologist Kent Brochazka said. “The question is the amount of accumulation. The ground will be warm.

“There will probably be enough to build a small snowman.”

The roads will be icy, especially in the northern areas of the county, he said.

“It’ll probably still be on the ground when people get up (Wednesday). But around 9 a.m., it’ll start to melt,” Brochazka said.

Brochazka warned gardeners to cover up any seedlings in the ground to protect against the severe cold weather.

NWS issued a Winter Storm Watch for Southeast Texas, including Montgomery County. “Accumulations will vary greatly depending on where the heavier snow bands become established,” according to the watch. “At this time … it appears that two to four inches of snow will accumulate from Madisonville to Crockett with some heavier totals possible.”

Those living north of Brenham to the Livingston line can expect 1-3 inches of snow.

Residents further south may see 1-2 inches.

“A winter storm watch means there is a potential for significant snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel,” according to the watch.

Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation said they are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast and started preparing area roadways for snow and ice.

TxDOT maintenance crews began spraying bridges and overpasses with a special magnesium chloride compound Monday in anticipation of freezing weather later tonight. The mixture helps prevent ice from forming on roads, said Delbert Aldredge, TxDOT area maintenance supervisor.

Crews have applied the compound on Texas 105 from Interstate 45 to the Grimes County line, on the long bridge across Lake Conroe on FM 1097 and on Loop 336.

The current weather forecast suggests the greatest potential for icing is in the northern and western regions of the county, Aldredge said.

Seven heavy-duty trucks were filled with a special sand mixture to treat area roadways, bridges and overpasses where ice accumulates. Maintenance supervisors will be in communication with local law enforcement officials to learn about problem areas so work crews can be dispatched.

School districts and Lone Star College-Montgomery also are preparing for weather-related issues by reviewing emergency procedures. School closures will be announced through local media and school websites, as well as automated phone, e-mail and text messages, officials said.

It all comes down to road conditions, Magnolia Independent School District Superintendent Todd Stephens said.

“Our biggest deal really becomes, ‘Does it create any unsafe driving conditions?’” he said. “Any time we get into freezing weather, our transportation people … start getting out early in the morning, driving around and checking roads.”

That’s also the case in Willis ISD, Kenneth N. Wilder, WISD assistant superintendent of support services and construction, stated in an e-mail to The Courier.

“If bad weather is predicted later in the day (after school starts) that might interfere with our ability to safely carry children home, our superintendent will make a decision very early in the morning of the day in question about canceling school for the day,” Wilder stated.

Conroe ISD doesn’t expect the weather to cause any school closures, according to an e-mail from CISD Communications Director Kathy Clark.

“We have begun running the heaters in our buildings 24/7 to ensure a warm environment for our students and staff and will continue to do this until temperatures are in the normal range,” Clark stated in the e-mail.

Custodians, electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians are reporting to work early to handle any issues that arise from the weather, and CISD police officers will patrol the streets from 2:30-4 a.m. to check road conditions, Clark stated.

“In the event that a decision is made to cancel the school day due to weather conditions or to move back the official start of the school day by one or two hours, the decision will be made by 5 a.m. if at all possible,” Clark stated.

Splendora ISD sent a letter home Monday letting parents know the district is monitoring the situation and will make decisions accordingly, Superintendent Thomas Price said.